Europe which the solemn sanction of the Church would bring to his
strength. William's reawaking and ready intellect soon seized upon
the importance of the object pressed upon him. He interrupted the
Lombard, drew pen and parchment towards him, and wrote rapidly.
Horses were harnessed, horsemen equipped in haste, and with no
unfitting retinue Lanfranc departed on the mission, the most important
in its consequences that ever passed from potentate to pontiff. [234]
Rebraced to its purpose by Lanfranc's cheering assurances, the
resolute, indomitable soul of William now applied itself, night and
day, to the difficult task of rousing his haughty vavasours. Yet
weeks passed before he could even meet a select council composed of
his own kinsmen and most trusted lords. These, however, privately won
over, promised to serve him "with body and goods." But one and all
they told him, he must gain the consent of the whole principality in a
general council. That council was convened: thither came not only
lords and knights, but merchants and traders,--all the rising middle
class of a thriving state.

The Duke bared his wrongs, his claims, and his schemes. The assembly
would not or did not discuss the matter in his presence, they would
not be awed by its influence; and William retired from the hall.
Various were the opinions, stormy the debate; and so great the
disorder grew, that Fitzosborne, rising in the midst, exclaimed:

"Why this dispute?--why this unduteous discord? Is not William your
lord? Hath he not need of you? Fail him now--and, you know him well
--by G--- he will remember it! Aid him--and you know him well--large
are his rewards to service and love!"

Up rose at once baron and merchant; and when at last their spokesman